A Trifling Tang San, Overestimating Himself-How Ridiculous!

Five days later, Lu Jinnian and Lu Chen returned from the Star Dou Great Forest to Nuoding Primary Soul Master Academy.

"We're finally back!"

Lu Chen gazed at the gate made of stone and iron railings and sighed.

Fortunately, the journey had been dangerous in appearance only. He now had some ability to protect himself, and had finally taken the first step toward becoming strong.

After saying goodbye to Lu Jinnian, Lu Chen headed toward Dormitory One. "I wonder if that little rabbit got turned into spicy rabbit heads!"

He knew Tang Hao would definitely be protecting Tang San in secret, so it was important to stay alert.

Lu Chen opened the door to Dormitory One. A giant Carrot Pillow lay on the bed. When he walked over, he noticed an open diary tucked beneath the pillow.

Lu Chen looked puzzled. "That little rabbit actually keeps a diary? Is she even a proper rabbit?"

He opened it to the first page, where the handwriting was tinged with irritation: Lu Chen is such a big meanie. He left without even saying goodbye!

Lu Chen chuckled. He flipped further through the pages. Most of it was carrot recipes—steamed, boiled, and pickled—and they were written with even more care than Soul Master theory.

A delicate wooden comb was tucked into the last page of the diary. Its teeth were smooth, clearly from frequent use.

From these little details, Lu Chen realized that Xiao Wu wasn't yet the unruly, troublemaking "Rogue Rabbit" she would become. She was still a lively young girl.

Lu Chen put the diary back where he found it. Suddenly, Wang Sheng's angry voice rang out from outside the door. "Brothers, let's go! We'll show those Senior Students what we can do!"

Hearing this, Lu Chen walked out of Dormitory One and darted in front of Wang Sheng to stop him. "What happened?"

"Brother Chen, you're finally back!"

Wang Sheng stared at Lu Chen, who had suddenly appeared before him. He froze for a moment, then broke into a delighted grin. "It's that sixth-year Xiao Chenyu. He's throwing his family's influence around and wants Sister Xiao Wu to be his child bride!"

Lu Chen furrowed his brows slightly and murmured, "Xiao Chenyu really has gone too far this time!"

Wang Sheng chimed in, "You bet. Everyone at the academy knows Sister Xiao Wu is Brother Chen's child bride. How dare he set his sights on her!"

"Huh!?"

Wang Sheng's words made Lu Chen's expression darken. "Who's spreading that rumor?"

Wang Sheng shrank back and answered timidly, "They say... they say Teacher Wang said it."

Hearing that, Lu Chen thought, I was so focused on Soul Rings that I forgot to explain things to Teacher Wang! This is trouble.

On the way, Lu Chen also learned from Wang Sheng that Tang San still hadn't returned to the academy. He wondered whether his transmigration had made Tang San's hunt for a Soul Ring more difficult.

Lu Chen followed Wang Sheng to a small hill outside the academy's rear gate.

The Work-Study Students, led by Xiao Wu, were confronting Xiao Chenyu's group.

As soon as Lu Chen appeared, everyone's attention turned to him.

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up when she saw him return. But remembering what she'd been through over the past few days, she huffily turned her head away, deliberately refusing to look at him.

Lu Chen looked at Xiao Chenyu and said calmly, "Xiao Chenyu, even if your father is the City Lord, don't you think you've gone a little too far?"

A flicker of apprehension crossed Xiao Chenyu's eyes when he saw Lu Chen. He'd only meant to put the Work-Study Students in their place. Some Big Mouth had started the rumor.

Although his father was the City Lord, he was no match for Lu Jinnian. Besides, most Soul Masters in Nuoding City had come from Nuoding Academy. Even his father would have to speak to Lu Chen with the utmost respect.

"Let's end this farce here!"

Lu Chen touched the Soul Tool at his waist with his right hand, and a Greatsword appeared in his grasp.

The Greatsword had no edge. Made entirely of Mysterious Iron, its Sword Body was as dark as ink and glimmered with a crimson-red light. It weighed eighty-one jin.

Lu Chen held the Mysterious Iron Hammer in one hand and lightly tapped it against a nearby rock. The rock instantly shattered into countless fragments.

"All right, Young Master Lu!"

Watching that, Xiao Chenyu imagined the Mysterious Iron Hammer crashing down on him. He didn't dare risk antagonizing Lu Chen any further and hurriedly led his group away.

Xiao Wu stole a glance at Lu Chen, puffed up her cheeks, and muttered, "It's nothing special..."

Lu Chen turned to Wang Sheng, who still hadn't recovered from what had happened. "Wang Sheng, tell the Work-Study Students they can disperse too. The academy encourages you to spar, but it doesn't allow you to gang up and fight."

At that, Wang Sheng led the Work-Study Students away. The vast hillside was left with only Lu Chen and Xiao Wu.

Lu Chen glanced at Xiao Wu and said calmly, "If you don't hurry, the cafeteria will run out of carrots."

Xiao Wu panicked. She hurried past him, but suddenly stopped and looked up at him. "How did you know I like carrots?"

Lu Chen gazed into Xiao Wu's light pink eyes, and his heart skipped a beat. He kept his composure and said, "I just... guessed. Your Martial Soul is a Soft Bone Rabbit, after all!"

Xiao Wu looked at Lu Chen suspiciously, but in the end, she couldn't resist the lure of carrots and ran toward the cafeteria.

"Phew—"

Lu Chen let out a long breath. He'd almost been caught reading Xiao Wu's diary.

Just as he was about to head down the hill, a familiar figure stopped him.

Tang San stepped in front of Lu Chen and said coldly, "I want to challenge you!"

Lu Chen furrowed his brows slightly. "Why?"

"I want to prove that my teacher's theory is right!"

Looking at Tang San's expression—the look of someone who'd been sold and was still counting the money—Lu Chen laughed. "There's nothing in it for me."

Lu Chen started to leave, but Tang San spoke up. "I... I'll bet one Gold Soul Coin against you."

It was the subsidy he'd received from Spirit Hall, and he was confident that his thirteenth level of Soul Power would let him defeat Lu Chen.

"Come on!"

Lu Chen looked at the Gold Soul Coin in Tang San's hand and thought, That's probably all the money Tang San has.

Soul Masters had hefty expenses, after all. Lu Chen didn't think much of a single Gold Soul Coin, but something was better than nothing. Besides, he could bully Tang San a little while he was at it. What was there to lose? As for Tang Hao, who was secretly protecting Tang San, it would be shameless for a Titled Douluo to pick a fight with a child like him!

On the open ground.

"Tang San. Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass. Thirteenth level, one-ring tool-type Soul Master."

Tang San solemnly announced his Martial Soul.

Lu Chen held the Mysterious Iron Hammer and said calmly, "Lu Chen. Martial Soul: Blood Nether Sword. Thirteenth level, one-ring tool-type Soul Master!"

He didn't release his Martial Soul. He wasn't about to foolishly reveal his true Soul Power Level. If he'd just awakened his Martial Soul and was already a Second Ring Great Soul Master, even an idiot would realize something was wrong.

As soon as he finished speaking, they both charged at each other.

Tang San used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, his movements elusive. He was surprised to find that Lu Chen, wielding the Greatsword, was just as fast as he was!

That Greatsword had to be all show!

Tang San made his judgment, and soon he would pay for his arrogance.

Lu Chen swung the Mysterious Iron Hammer at Tang San with one hand.

Tang San's hands glowed with a lustrous jade color. He actually intended to take Lu Chen's Sword Body head-on with his Mysterious Jade Hand.

"Crack!"

The sharp sound of breaking bones rang out, and Tang San was instantly knocked back several steps.

Lu Chen said calmly, "That enough? Do you still want to fight?"

The pain in Tang San's right hand made him realize that the Mysterious Iron Hammer in Lu Chen's hand wasn't a toy. It was a true weapon of slaughter!

"Blue Silver Grass, Entanglement."

At Tang San's command, more than ten thick Blue Silver Grass vines suddenly burst from beneath Lu Chen's feet. They spiraled upward and wrapped tightly around his legs.

A trace of amusement flashed through Lu Chen's eyes. As he swung the Mysterious Iron Hammer, he unleashed the Slaughter Aura within him. A red light flashed past, and every vine of Blue Silver Grass wrapped around him was cut apart.

"I lost."

Tang San tossed a Gold Soul Coin to Lu Chen and left without another word. He had considered using Hidden Weapons, but when the red light appeared, he understood that his Hidden Weapons couldn't hurt Lu Chen—not yet.

Lu Chen looked at the Gold Soul Coin in his hand and smiled. A verse came to him:

A trifling Tang San, overestimating himself—how ridiculous!